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Cool Treats to Beat the Summer Heat
With the current scorching weather, every Filipino is undoubtedly looking for ways to cool down. The fans are set to maximum and air conditioners are running continuously. While some people go to the beach, others prefer to stay indoors or shop at their favorite mall and have cool refreshments.
Now that it's summer and the heat is unbearable (up to 32 °C), many of us are dusting off our culinary skills and whipping up our favorite summer delicacies and drinks.
Halo-Halo
The king of summer delights, halo-halo is a staple dessert in the Philippines. It literally means "mix-mix," referring to a blend of different ingredients and flavors that surprisingly complement each other nicely.
“Dirty Ice Cream”
Dirty ice cream isn't actually dirty–it gets its name from the fact that it's served in deep metal containers rather than tubs. Children patiently wait for the colorful, stainless steel cart with many flavors of ice cream to pass by.
Ice Candy
Usually made of fruit juice poured into an ice candy wrapper and frozen overnight, this has to be the most affordable frozen dessert that both children and adults alike crave on a hot summer day. Basically, it's a mini shake snack wrapped in a candy wrapper.
Sago’t Gulaman
Sago't gulaman means pearls and gelatin, and is famous during lunch breaks and in school canteens. It’s made of tapioca pearls, colorful sliced jelly, and caramelized brown sugar sauce. It is then mixed with loads of ice and a bit of water.
Ice Scramble
It's an affordable, year-round cold treat that's frequently sold outside of schools and churches. It's made of sweet pink shaved ice, powdered milk, chocolate syrup, and little marshmallows–just like a milkshake.
Ice Buko
Buko translates to "coconut." This tropical fruit is found all across the Philippines, providing us with the most basic yet nutritious summer beverage. Ice buko, or coconut popsicle, is a creamy, milk-based, cylindrical-shaped ice popsicle made with condensed milk, shredded coconut, and coconut water.
There's something to be said about the Philippine summer, not just for the stunning beaches but also for the delectable feasts served throughout the season. Since we can't always go to pool parties or the beach, food is the best way to beat the heat.
